The “Write My Representative” page, located in the “I Want To” section of the hamburger menu/main navigation of the new NCBFAA website, is now available for members to browse and take action on behalf of the customs broker and forwarder industries

oin your industry colleagues at the 2022 NCBFAA Government Affairs Conference (GAC) in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 18-20 and make your voice heard loud and clear on regulations and legislation that impact the customs brokerage, freight forwarding and NVOCC business in the U.S. Register today to secure your place at the conference table, as well as your hotel room at the Hyatt Regency Washington where the GAC is hosted!

Here is a summary of the latest legislative and regulatory transport, logistics and trade sector updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Transportation Counsel firm Venable

Signed by President Biden on July 22, the Formula Act immediately grants a temporary suspension of duties on imports of certain infant formula products. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Trade has updated the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) file in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) to account for this legislation. Thus, the agency will provide duty-free treatment of the eligible infant formula products entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption from July 22 through Dec. 31, 2022.

As an advocate for the entire industry, NCBFAA provides two key resource documents for shippers and freight forwarders that are available to members and non-members alike. NCBFAA’s Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI) Model and the USPPI Responsibility Sheet simplify the reporting process for both shippers and forwarders and help them explain regulations to key partners and industry representatives.

Here is a summary of the latest customs and cross-border trade regulatory updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Customs Counsel firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg:

Every customs broker knows that interacting with Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) can be the most challenging part of their job. The PGA data requirements are often demanding. And, on top of that, there are just so many agencies! To help sort out this confusion, the NCBFAA Regulatory Agencies Committee (RAC) at the start of this year created a PGA Import Reference Tool which has been posted on the NCBFAA website for our Regular members to use.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided guidance to the import industry on the recent retroactive suspension of Section 201 solar safeguard measures on imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells (CSPV) and modules originating in Canada and entered on or after February 1, 2022.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is now developing a proposed rule to automate the submission of a Certification of Admissibility (COA). A COA is used to allow entry of otherwise prohibited fish products from certain locations with certain types of fishing gear. To date, NMFS has used its authority one time to restrict fish products from Mexico that were harvested by specified fishing gear in the upper Gulf of California. The COA process in that instance involves paper submissions.

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) issued a Federal Register Notice on July 20 announcing new Open General Licenses (OGLs) 1 and 2 that may not directly impact U.S. exports. However, the NCBFAA Export Compliance Subcommittee and counsel are looking into potential scenarios where U.S. exports could be affected.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Friday, Oct. 10, announced modifications to its Section 301 tariffs on foreign ships calling U.S. ports, effective Oct. 14, as well as the addition of tariffs for container-handling equipment imports.

President Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday, Oct. 10, said that his administration will impose 100% tariffs on China products, “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” by Nov. 1 or sooner, citing an “extraordinary aggressive position” taken by China against the U.S. with new tariffs and increased export controls on rare earth metals.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are closing monitoring the imposition of Section 232 tariffs on timber, lumber, and derivative products imported into the U.S., starting for entries made on or after Oct. 14, and proposed Section 232 tariffs for heavy-duty truck imports by Nov. 1. The Committee will provide related Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance to our customs broker members as soon as it’s received.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stepped up outreach to the trade to increase awareness of DEA import and export requirements. DEA officials recently visited several local customs broker associations to spread the word about importer and exporter requirements under the Controlled Substances Act with particular emphasis on chemicals that can be used to manufacture fentanyl.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during an Oct. 1 call with the trade that no refunds of any type, including drawback, ACH, etc., are part of the excepted functions currently allowed by the agency during the government shutdown since they’re tied to appropriations.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Friday, Oct. 10, announced modifications to its Section 301 tariffs on foreign ships calling U.S. ports, effective Oct. 14, as well as the addition of tariffs for container-handling equipment imports.

President Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday, Oct. 10, said that his administration will impose 100% tariffs on China products, “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” by Nov. 1 or sooner, citing an “extraordinary aggressive position” taken by China against the U.S. with new tariffs and increased export controls on rare earth metals.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are closing monitoring the imposition of Section 232 tariffs on timber, lumber, and derivative products imported into the U.S., starting for entries made on or after Oct. 14, and proposed Section 232 tariffs for heavy-duty truck imports by Nov. 1. The Committee will provide related Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance to our customs broker members as soon as it’s received.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stepped up outreach to the trade to increase awareness of DEA import and export requirements. DEA officials recently visited several local customs broker associations to spread the word about importer and exporter requirements under the Controlled Substances Act with particular emphasis on chemicals that can be used to manufacture fentanyl.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during an Oct. 1 call with the trade that no refunds of any type, including drawback, ACH, etc., are part of the excepted functions currently allowed by the agency during the government shutdown since they’re tied to appropriations.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Friday, Oct. 10, announced modifications to its Section 301 tariffs on foreign ships calling U.S. ports, effective Oct. 14, as well as the addition of tariffs for container-handling equipment imports.

President Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday, Oct. 10, said that his administration will impose 100% tariffs on China products, “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” by Nov. 1 or sooner, citing an “extraordinary aggressive position” taken by China against the U.S. with new tariffs and increased export controls on rare earth metals.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., are closing monitoring the imposition of Section 232 tariffs on timber, lumber, and derivative products imported into the U.S., starting for entries made on or after Oct. 14, and proposed Section 232 tariffs for heavy-duty truck imports by Nov. 1. The Committee will provide related Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance to our customs broker members as soon as it’s received.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stepped up outreach to the trade to increase awareness of DEA import and export requirements. DEA officials recently visited several local customs broker associations to spread the word about importer and exporter requirements under the Controlled Substances Act with particular emphasis on chemicals that can be used to manufacture fentanyl.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during an Oct. 1 call with the trade that no refunds of any type, including drawback, ACH, etc., are part of the excepted functions currently allowed by the agency during the government shutdown since they’re tied to appropriations.